SERAP Gives Jonathan 7 Days To Declare Assets

A civil society group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given President Goodluck Jonathan seven days ultimatum to publicly declare the assets he owned between May 2007 and May 2012.

In a statement signed by the executive director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, the group said that failure to comply with the request within seven days will compel it to seek appropriate legal action to enforce the FOI on the president.

The group said: “The disclosure of the information requested will give SERAP and the general public a true picture of the assets of the president from May 2007 to May 2012, and will demonstrate the president’s oft-expressed commitment to transparency and accountability, and show that your signing of the FOI was not just a public relation exercise but a public duty done in good faith.

“We are concerned that your recent statement – that you would not publicly declare your asset – is a clear violation of the Nigerian Constitution and the UN Convention against corruption to which Nigeria is a state party, and entirely inconsistent with your oft-repeated promises to prevent and combat high-level official corruption in the country.

“Your statement may also have breached the provisions of chapter two of the 1999 Constitution dealing with Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy, which, among others, require the government to take steps to eradicate corrupt practices and the abuseof power"